For those going to College: Engineering, Computer-Science Pay More Than Liberal Arts

Wall Street Journal ^ | 10/25/2010 | Joe Light

[WebFocus]

The starting pay of certain liberal arts majors generally clocks in well below that of graduates in engineering fields, according to a Wall Street Journal study.

Graduates with engineering degrees earned average starting pay of $56,000 in their first full-time jobs out of college, topping other majors. Communications and English majors only earned $34,000 in their first jobs.

The survey, which was conducted by PayScale.com between April and June of this year, was answered by about 11,000 people who graduated between 1999 and 2010. The reported starting pay was adjusted for inflation to make the salaries of graduates from different years comparable.

The clear career path of engineering and computer science degrees means students often feel pressure to move into those fields, said Katharine Brooks, director of liberal arts career services at The University of Texas at Austin and author of "You Majored In What?

The pay advantage of graduates with technical degrees often persists throughout their careers, said Fort Collins, Colo.-based career counselor Katy Piotrowski. Although liberal arts majors have a wide range of salaries, Ms. Piotrowski said that mid-career liberal arts majors she works with in northern Colorado make between $60,000 and $70,000. Those with technical degrees make at least $10,000 more.

[ThinkingBuddha]

Where is the picture of captain obvious?

[Borges]

I wonder how much this “study” cost.

[Hoodat]

[moehoward]

“For those going to College: Engineering, Computer-Science Pay More Than Liberal Arts”

Those going to College certainly DO pay more for those programs, than something in Arts.

[MichiganConservative]

No way really? I’m sure it is just misogyny and homophobia that keeps the wymyn’s studies and queer theory majors down.

[WebFocus]

RE: Where is the picture of Captain Obvious?

---

Here you go...

[JRandomFreeper]

Yeah, but math is HARD. snicker....

/johnny

[HereInTheHeartland]

“For those going to College: Engineering, Computer-Science Pay More Than Liberal Arts”

In other news, after a 24 month extensive study, water is reported to be wet!

[max americana]

You mean my “ Advance Studies in Multiculturalism and Peace Studies” wasn’t worth it?

How dare you! If you’ll excuse me, my shift at Starbucks starts in an hour.

[MichiganConservative]

“ Advance Studies in Multiculturalism and Peace Studies”

That's what they are calling the "education major" these days?

[cherry]

an RN can make that her first year....and pharmcists of cousre can make well over $80,000 a year....of course that is a 6 yr program generally...

[battousai]

What this is news? oO

I mean if not for liberal arts degrees who’s gonna ask us if you ‘want fries with that’...

[WayneS]

For those going to College: Engineering, Computer-Science Pay More Than Liberal Arts

Another headline retrieved from the 'Well DUH!' bin.

[AlexW]

“The starting pay of certain liberal arts majors generally clocks in well below that of graduates in engineering fields”

I think that has always been the case, but liberal arts
students often go on to other disciplines and graduate schools, such as medicine, and a host of other graduate programs.
My older brother, a very successful physician, first graduated with a liberal arts degree.
Most all professionals start with a liberal arts degree.

[A CA Guy]

Seems the tech sector is firing people left and right as well. May be no great future in that for years.

Even the graduating lawyers and accountants are being told to apply maybe in another two years.

Sucky out there right now.

We rent apartments in Beverly HIlls as well and let me tell you, there are TONS of vacancies, so that is all going to roll down hill being those are mostly employers leaving for cheaper digs.

Based on all the homes for sale or rent in the wealthy areas, I think the worst of it is to come still IMO.

We know all our banks are insolvent and use an accounting trick called “Future Value” on the books to make it seem we have less troubles.

We have HARD times ahead. IMO maybe even a strong depression. Could be a decade or more before this works itself out, especially if the country goes socialism.

[wku man]

Anyone wanting to go into radio, don't waste your time with a broadcasting degree. Start out as a part-time board operator, learn the biz, and move up the ladder. But don't expect to ever earn much more than a living wage, if even that.

If you want to go into TV, you pretty much have to have a degree, but again, don't expect to earn much more than a break-even wage.

If you want to be a print reporter, don't even waste your time applying to a newspaper or magazine. Start a news blog and look for donors...you'll make more money and have more respect for the free market.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[hoagy62]

I know. My wife is currently studying Architectural Engineering. Her teacher is suggesting she continue on to a full 4-year engineering degree because she’s proved herself in class AND she’s great with numbers.

Starting pay $56K a year? I wouldn’t mind that at all. :)

[Soothesayer9]

an RN can make that her first year....and pharmcists of cousre can make well over $80,000 a year.

And $350,000 in debt. Plus interest.

[RC2]

Liberals prefer to sit around and talk, talk, talk. Engineering personnel prefer to design things, manufacture things, sell things. For some unknown reason, selling new things brings in the money and satisfaction of producing things. Liberals want to talk about things and produce nothing.